Electric trolley construction.



N0. 684,83. Patantad Oct. 8, l90l.

E. G. THOMAS.

ELECTRIC TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION.

(Application filed Apx. 18, 1901-) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(I0 Model.)

INVENTORI 5 E 5 5 E N n W GIL . WASMWGYON n c No. 684,|33. Patented Oct. 8, I91".

1 E. G. THOMAS. I I

ELECTRIC TBDLLEY GDNSTRUDTION.

(Application flied Apr. 18, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Shani 2.

(No Model.)

INVENTU R:

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a s2 .whxwa I norms was en. mnmnrmq. WAGHINGTON o c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD G. THOMAS, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,133, dated October 8, 1901.

Application filed April 18,1901. Serial No. 56,417. (No model.)

Construction, of which the following is a speci-.

fi'cation.

My invention relates to systems for the electrical transmission of power such as are now I in common use for the propulsion of streetcars, according to which each car receives' its current through a grooved trolley-wheel running along the under side of a conducting-wire suspended at suitable intervals by insulated hangers. It has been found practically necessary that such wires shall have a'substantially constant cross-sectional area throughout their lengths in order that both the strength of the wires and also their conducting power may be uniform at all points. It is also desirable that the under surface of these wires shall be as level and continuous as possible in order that the trolley-wheel may not be thrown away from the wire by passing rapidly over inequalities contained in it. It is therefore impracticable to support these wires from beneath or to perforate the substance of the wire in order to attach it to the hangers, and consequently in order to provide for a firm attachment the hangers have been so constructed as to extend along the top of the wire and down and around its sides to a considerable extent, with the result between the hangers.

be true regardless of the shape or size of the groove with which the wheel is originally provided. The consequence of the wearing of a supplementary groove of the size of the wire, as above described, is that when a trolleywheel so Worn passes a hanger both sides of the groove strike against the lower portions of the hanger which project laterally from the wire and throw the wheel downward away from the wire. As a result the contact is broken between the trolley-wheel and wire and much sparking is produced, which not only increases the wear of the wheel, but also introduces a high resistance into the circuit, often sufficient to afiect the motors on the car. Moreover, the trolley-wheel is not infrequently thrown entirely off the wire, especially at high speeds, so that from this cause and from the increased resistance above referred to the speed which is attainable by the car is undesirably limited.

My invention provides a trolley-wire and hanger of novel construction and arrangement, which are free from the objections above set forth and also possess certain other advantages hereinafter described, my invention being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a sideelevation of an insulating-hanger having a portion of my improved trolley-wire secured thereto. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, showing the wire in cross-section between hangers. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the trolley-wire in cross-section at a hanger and showing the wheel in cross-section also. Fig. 4 is a cross-section ofa modified form of trolley-wire embodying my invention. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a hanger adapted to be used at curves combined with my improved trolley-wire, and Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation of the hanger shown in Fig. 5.

My invention may be briefly described as residing in a trolley-wire which in cross-section is thicker in one direction than at right angles thereto and has limited portions'of its length twisted through substantially a right angle at the intervals necessary for its proper such size that the combined width of the wire 7 and hangers at the points of suspension is not greater than the width of those portions of the wire which are located between the hangers. The result of this construction is that inasmuch as by far the greater part of the travel of the trolley-wheel is along the wider surface of the wire the groove worn in said wheel by continued use will be as wide as the greater transverse dimension of the wire, and therefore no matter how much said trolley-wheel may be worn it will be impossible for its flanges to strike both sides of a hanger at the same time, and hence it cannot be forced down and away from the wire by coming in contact with the hanger, so that the displacement of said wheel and the consequent sparking and introduction of increased resistance into the circuit will be wholly avoided.

My preferred form of wire is that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in which is shown a fiat wire 2, of greater width than thickness, said wire having limited portions 3 of its length twisted through substantially a right angle and secured to hangers at in such manner that the greater transverse dimension of said twisted portions is vertical, so that those portions of the wire extending between the hangers will have their greater transverse dimension horizontal. The portions 3 are so formed that their lower edges lie practically in the same straight line with the under surface of the intermediate portions of the wire, and thus form a level and continuous track for the trolley-wheels.

It will be evident that the flat vertical sides of the portions 3 provide an ample surface to be engaged by the hangers and that sufficient space is provided adjacent to. said vertical sides to receive clamping or attaching means of substantial thickness without danger of making the combined thickness of the hanger and portions 3 greater than the width of the wire itself. To provide for the attachment of said portions 3 to the hangers 4, I prefer to provide the lower portion of each hanger with two longitudinal plates 5, between which the portions 3 are clamped by means, such as screws 6, passed through the plates 5 and acting to draw the same together. As above stated, said plates 5 are of such thickness that they will not project laterally beyond the edges of those portions of the wire 2 which extend from one hanger to another. If desired, the lower end of the hanger may extend to the bottom of the portions 3, as shown at 5 in Fig. 6, without danger of forcing the trolley-wheel away from the wire, this construction being desirable on curves, where there is more or less tendency for the wire to be pulled laterally out of the hangers, because it provides an attaching-surface extending below the center of the wire.

The trolley wheel 7 is provided with a groove 8, having a flat bottom 9, as shown, which conforms to the under surface of the flat wire, said trolley-wheel being carried by the car or other vehicle in the usual manner.

The construction above described has certain other advantages, one of which is that on curves the pressure of the trolley-wheel against the wire will have no component capable of rolling the wire out of the hanger, A i

as is the case with the constructions now commonly used. Another advantage is that the flat wire has a tendency to be pressed into contact with the trolley-wheel in case one or the other is slightly tilted. Also the broader ,7.

whatever to throw the trolley-wheel downi V ward as it passes over them.

It will be seen 9' f3 Instead of making the wire flatit maybe ssr made elliptical in cross-section, as shown'at V 2 in Fig. 4, the main advantages of thefiat wire being retained in such a construction, as

will be evident, and I do not consider my invention to be limited to any specific form of wire so long as one of its transverse dimen sions is greater than the other and 1s so.

changed in its direction at the hangers-as to provide for the suspension of the wire there by without making the combined width of the hanger and the attached portion of the wire' greater than the greatest transverse dimen sion of the wire itself. Furthermore,-my invention is not limited to any specific form of hanger nor to any particular arrangement for securing the twisted portions of the wire" thereto.

I claim as my invention- 1. A trolley-wire having one of its trans r 7 verse dimensions greater than the dimension at right angles thereto, and having limited portions of its length turned circumferen-i tially through substantially a right angle,for'

the purpose set forth.

2. A flat trolley-wire of greater width than thickness,having limited portions of its length twisted through an angle, for the purpose set forth.

3. A trolley-wire of greater width than" thickness,havin g limited portions of its length twisted through an ang1e,in combination with hangers secured to said twisted portions and holding the intermediate portions of the wire with its greater transverse dimension horizontal.

4. The combination of a trolley-wire of greater width than thickness, and having'limited portions of its length twisted through substantially a right angle, and hangerssecured to said twisted portions and holding the same with the greater width of the twisted portions vertical, the combined thickness of said hangers and twisted portions being not 7 greater than the width of said wire.

5. The combination of a hanger provided at its lower end with an attaching-surface, and a wire of greater width than thickness and having limited portions of its length twisted ing to the lower edges thereof, and'means for IO through substantially a right angle, said securing said twisted portions to said longitwisted portions being secured to said surface. tudinal portions 6. The combination of a trolley-wire of In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- 5 greater Width than thickness, and having limscribed my name this 15th day of April, 1901;

ited portions of its length twisted through EDWARD GJTHOMAS. substantially a right angle, hangers each pro- Vitnesses: vided with a longitudinal portion embracing E. D; CHADWIGK,

the twisted portions of said wire and extend- ALMEDIA F. HICHBORN. 

